XIII 
THE CROCODILE 
33 
At that time there cannot be the slightest doubt 
that they are buried in the mud, which dries and 
hardens above them, in which torpid state they 
exist until released by the refilling of the tank 
in the rainy season. Under such conditions the 
crocodile never grows to a large size, but it is 
limited to 8 or 9 feet. 
The largest that I ever saw were of such extra¬ 
ordinary dimensions that I could scarcely believe 
the reality, although within only a few yards of 
our canoe ; I had a life’s experience among these 
creatures, but I never had the faintest conception 
that such monsters were in existence. We were 
travelling up the Victoria Nile,—my wife, myself, 
and two attendants, in addition to the native crew 
of a very large canoe (about 30 feet in length). 
Another canoe was about 50 yards astern, full of 
wounded men : the troops were marching through 
forest parallel with the river; this was about 500 
yards in width, very deep, with a current so slight 
as to be almost imperceptible. There had been 
serious fighting during a forest march of seven 
consecutive days, and although we were approach¬ 
ing a friendly tribe, I did not wish to proclaim our 
presence by the report of fire-arms. 
We were paddling with six rowers along this 
desolate river, bordered upon either side by lofty 
papyrus and sombre forests, when we observed a 
small island, a portion of the area being overgrown 
with the very graceful but mournful-looking rush 
(papyrus); this had taken root in a shallow soil 
VOL. 11 
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